Dog Training & Health

[Sophia]

How can we keep our 10 month old akita/pitbull mix from becoming aggressive? As well as having him castrated, what else can be done? Will keeping a muzzle on him provoke him to be aggressive? Please help.

[meezermom]

Hi Sophia and thanks for stopping by~

Neutering him will not stop aggression. It will stop him from reproducing. The only aggression it removes it hormonal aggression. If he is by nature aggressive, he will still be and may end up more so. You need to start training and socializing now! If he is showing aggression already, you need to have a behaviorist/trainer check him to see if this is something that can be worked with or not. Akitas are known for their aggressive behavior and a badly bred pit bull is usually aggressive too so you may well have a real problem on your hands or a nice dog but you do need a professional on site to check him out and tell you.

[Peggy Swager]

Do leadership training. One of my training friends takes Rotties who are deemed impossible and reforms them by doing leadership training. She'd taken impossible cases and never jerked on a choke collar to get the dog to reform. That is the same approach I use. Leadership training includes teaching the dog you control all the resources, working with impulse control, and at times, working on specific issues the dog has.

Peggy Swager
APDT-Behaviorist
author of training the Hard to Train Dog

[uptowndogs]

Akitas need lots of socialization at an early age. Instinctively they are highly protective, this can become agression if not properly socialized and trained. Good luck!

[akitademon]

With akita and pit bulls you have to socialize them very well at a young age and you have to also establish dominance and until you do that you will not control the dog when you are walking the dog and it begins to show aggression make the dog sit down then lay completely down and sub mit to you and keep it's attention on you until the dog passes do theis every time and slowly but surely it will get to where it passes less and less attention to the other dog and eventually it will ignore the other dogs I speak from experience because I have a six year old intact male and he pretty much ignores all other dogs even ones who are being aggressive towards him also watch the dog whisperer Ceasar Milan and it's me or the Dog(NAtional geographic channell and animal planet) to see what I am talking about

[Jasmer]

The Dog Whisperer and It's Me Or The Dog are good references. However, one should consult a trainer or behaviorist before attempting the techniques you see on the show. Keep in mind the hosts of these two shows are on site with the dog owners, are able to see and gauge every behavioral nuance of both dog and owner, and correct and intervene when necessary. The techniques work well but understanding the canine psyche is absolutely necessary, as well as timing and proper execution. The shows are great references, as are books on dog training and behavior that you can find at the library.